The Reviewer of the Month for October 2023: James Yahaya, MD

Peer review is an essential part of the scientific publishing process, helping to ensure that research papers meet high standards of quality and accuracy. Each month, the BiomolBiomed Editorial team recognizes a reviewer who has gone above and beyond in providing thoughtful and constructive feedback on the reviewed manuscript.

This month, we’re pleased to announce that the Reviewer of the Month Award goes to James Yahaya, MD, a Pathology Lecturer at the Department of Pathology, School of Health Sciences, Soroti University, Soroti, Uganda. Dr. Yahaya’s review stood out for its exceptional quality, providing authors with valuable feedback that helped them improve the clarity and rigor of their research.

We sat down with Dr. Yahaya to learn more about his approach to peer review and his thoughts on the current state of the publishing industry.  Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

Please tell us more about your research interests and share your thoughts on recent advances or current issues that are currently shaping your field.

Since becoming a pathologist, I have become deeply interested in various research areas related to different diseases, particularly the pathogenesis and survival rates of patients with cancer. As a pathologist, I am keen to deepen my understanding of the mechanisms through which malignancies develop and progress. To this end, I have embarked on molecular studies using different platforms.

How has the peer-review process evolved over the years, and where do you see it going in the future? How do you ensure that you remain impartial and objective in your reviews?

The peer-review process has undergone changes and modifications over the years. However, with the advancement of information technology, the integrity of this process is now being compromised due to certain reviewers who fail to remain impartial. Such malpractices have contributed to a rise in counterfeit peer reviews, leading to the production of subpar and unreliable deliverables. This is why numerous measures are being implemented to ensure the impartiality of the peer-review process, aiming to curb malpractices in research.

In today’s rapidly evolving scientific landscape, what are some of the emerging trends or best practices you have observed in the field of scientific publishing?

The best practices I’ve observed in the realm of scientific publishing involve advanced methods for detecting and preventing malpractices such as duplication, double submission, and paper milling. These measures enhance the authenticity of scientific publications.

We’re thrilled to honor Dr. Yahaya as our Reviewer of the Month, and we’re grateful for his contributions to the scientific community. We hope that his example will inspire other reviewers to aspire for excellence in their work, and that it will encourage everyone to value the peer review process as an essential part of the scientific publishing ecosystem.